Some Useful Tips When Buying a Horse for the First Time

Horse riding is a favorite pass- time for many people around the world. This is true for both children and adults. Some people are so enthusiastic about this activity that they opt to buy personal horses. This gives them the convenience of enjoying their favorite pass-time at will and with no disturbance. On the face of it, buying a horse may sound like a very simple affair. However, there is more to buying these animals than giving money and getting a horse in return. Here are a few tips on how to go about buying a horse, especially when doing it for the first time.

It is very much advisable to have a physical encounter with a horse before buying it. This is the surest way of ensuring that you get value for your money. A physical encounter means that you actually see the horse in its usual surrounding. From this, a keen buyer can get a lot of information about the overall condition horse, which the seller may not have been willing to divulge. It is even better if you can get to ride the horse before making the all-important payment. Something more or less like the 'test drive' before buying a car from a dealer.

Sometimes however, a physical encounter may not be possible due to one reason or the other. So, what happens in such a case? It may be wise for the buyer in such a situation to ask for photos of the horse he or she intends to buy. This way, it is possible to know what kind of horse you are putting your money on.

If the seller can get videos of the horse, the better. There is greater reliability in a video than a photo. Videos or photos should however be given a thorough scrutiny so as to spot any anomalies with the animal. In this internet age, it should be very easy to share photos or videos no matter where the parties involved are in the world.

As you make your plans for buying the horse, you should always have at the back of your mind the purpose of buying the horse. This is the greatest single factor that determines the type of horse to be bought. In simple terms, you cannot buy a pony and expect to take it for the annual horse racing championship to compete with stallions. A pony would make the cut if you were looking for a horse for the kids.

A common mistake that may horse buyers make is choosing to make their purchase at an auction. Perhaps this is due to the relatively lower prices on offer. It is very easy for a horse to be drugged for it to appear healthy at an auction. The buyer may not even come close to noticing this at the auction. It only becomes apparent after the effect of the drug wears off. An auction does not give ample time for buyers to scrutinize the horse they are about to buy and they may end up getting a raw deal. An auction is definitely not the way to go more so for persons who have no previous experience in buying a horse.

It is always advisable to go for a trained horse as opposed to an untrained one. Doing this saves you a lot of trouble. An untrained horse will make the buyer incur greater costs since it will have to be taken for training at the end of it all.

The other alternative would be to train the horse yourself which is very time consuming. Apart from this, it is also much safer to ride a trained horse. Such a horse will respond better to any alarming situation that may arise in the process of riding it. It is an open secret that untrained horses are usually cheaper and this is why many people will opt to buy them instead. The best way to enjoy your first time experience with a personal horse is to buy a trained one.

There is also the question of age that always needs to be considered before buying a horse. It goes without saying that an older horse will have less vigor than a younger one. The age determines to a large extent what the horse can do and that which it can't. This should however not be taken to imply that preference should be given to younger horses. Many at times in fact, the best horses are usually the older, more mature ones.

Having a veterinary professional examine a horse before buying it is a very good idea. There is no telling what you might discover about the horse from the results of the vet's examination. Many people tend to think that there is no need for a veterinary exam if the buyer had a physical encounter with the horse before purchase. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As a buyer, you are not a vet, the most you can do is to spot a few cuts and bruises on the horse's skin, or excessive amounts of wax in its ears and so on. However, only a vet has the professional expertise to identify serious problems that the animal may have. Just like humans, some health complications may not be evident from the outside. The importance of a vet examining the horse before purchase cannot be emphasized enough.

Lastly, and most importantly, a buyer should always insist that he or she be given proper legal documentation proving ownership of the horse. The seller has to prove that the he or she is selling does not belong to someone else. This will help to avoid any ownership wrangles in the future.

There are a number of factors to consider when buying a horse. Whether it is a first time purchase or a subsequent one, these factors still come into play. Unfortunately, all the factors cannot be exhaustively discussed in a single sitting. With the above information in mind, you are well on your way to becoming an expert horse- buyer.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com